Testing device for spark plugs



Jame 1 3%233. 1,459,37Q

A. s. sHlMA TESTING DEVICE FOR SPARK PLUGS Filed Marofi 9, 1922 1 form of Fatented dune lid, N23.

* altar -arnwr ADAM S. SHIMA, 0F PASADENA, CALIFORhllLll.

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Application filed March 9, 1922. Serial No. 542,329.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ADAM S. SHIMA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, the county of Los Angeles and 3 State of California, have invented new and useful improvements in Testing Devices for W p spark r; or which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to testing devices for the spark plugs of internal combustion.

engines as used on automobiles, and a purpose of my invention is the provision of a spark plug tester of extremely simple, dur ble, and efiicient construction which is I- adapted to he associated with a motor vehicle so as to he within full view of the operator and to function in such a manner that when any one of the spark plugs fails to function spark occur Within the tester and in such manner as to designate the particular spark pl which is out of order.

It is al a a purpose of my invention to provide 'rk plug tester which is cap-able ociated with a steering column of an automohile and which includes electrodes which are adjustable to vary the spark gaps so as to permit of the tester heing used in conjunction with ignition systems of various characters.

Although It will describe only one form of spark plug tester embodying my invention and point out the novel features thereof in claims it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made i herein without departing from the spirit and scope of such claims.

in the accompanyin drawings,

Figure 1* is a view s owing a portion of a motor vhaving applied thereto one plug tester embodying my plugs 16 are bored longitudinally to amodate electrodes 17 which project beyond the opposite ends of the plugs with one end threaded to receive binding nuts 18 which 60.

co-operate with the plugs in providing hindmg posts for the securing of conductors thereto. The head H is also formed with slots 19, with one slot for each of the openings l5 and arranged adjacent to the latter 65 as clearly shown in Fig. 2.. These slots 19 receive electrodes 20 which are threaded to receive nuts 21 for clamping the electrodes in any adjusted position along the length of the slots so that the electrodes can occupy predetermined positions with respect to the electrodes 17 to form sparl-r gaps of various lengths.

As shown in Fig. 2, l have provided six electrodes 17 and six electrodes 20, the invention in present embodiment being designed tor use in COIljllldGtlOh with a six cylinder internal combustion engine. i is to be understood, however, that any number of electrodes can he provided depending m upon the numher of cylinders of the engine with which the device is ada to he A bracket designated at l' is adapted to he used In conjunction with the head H for sustaining the device upon a steering column 9% K as shown in Fig. 1. This bracket comprises an arm 22 one end of which is formed with a flange 23, and through the flange 23 screws 24.- extend for securing the bracket as a unit to the head.v The arm 22 is formed with a semicircularextension or jaw 25 which cooperates with a similarly shaped member 26 detachably secured thereto by means of screws 27. The members 25 and 26 constitute jaws which embrace the steering col umn K in the manner shown in Fig. 1 so as to sustain the tester in a position in which the operator of the vehicle can readily ohserve the electrodes 17 and 20.

In the application ofthe tester to an in- 11% ternal combustion engine, conductors D are extendedfrom the nut ends of the electrodes 17 to the spark plugs P of an engine thus forming an electrical communication between the spark plugs and the electrodes 17. 11655 The electrodes 20 are grounded through the head H, the bracket B, and the steering colurnn K, and as one side of the s ark plugs l? are also grounded, it will he c ear that the electrodes 1'? and 20' are connected in paral- WP lel with the spark plugs. By this arrangement it will he seen that as long as the spark the respective spark plug is not functioningso that he may readily determine which plug is to be repaired or replaeed. 7,

By an adjustment of theelectrodes 20, it will be clear that the length ofthe spark gaps can be varied to permit of the tester being used in conjunction with ignltion systems of various characters.

What ll claim is:

1. A spark plug tester comprising a head of conductive material, a set of electrodes fixed Within and insulated from the head by means of insulating plugs bored longitudinall'y, and electrodes being adapted for connection with the spark plugs of an internal coumbustion engine,-a second set of elec trodes adjustably mounted within the head and in conductive contact therewith, with one electrode for each of the electrodes of the first set, said second set of electrodes being seated in slots whereby the gaps between any pair of electrodes can be varied.

2. A spark plug tester comprising a head formed with ogenings and slots, with each slot disposed a jacent an opening, plugs of neaas'ze insulating material threadedly fitted Within said openings, electrodes mounted in said plugs, other electrodes adjustable Within said slots and co-operating with the first electrodes to provide spark gaps, and means for locking the second electrodes in any adjusted position.

3. A spark plug tester comprising a. head formed with openings and slots, with each slot disposed adjacent an opening,'plugs of insulating material threadedly fitted within said openings, electrodes mounted in said plugs, other electrodes adjustable within said slots and co-operating with the first electrodes to provide spark gaps, means for locking the second electrodes in any adjusted position, and a bracket secured to the head adapted to sustain the tester upon the steering column of an automobile.

4. A spark plug tester comprising a head formed with openings and slots, with each slot disposed adjacent an opening, plugs of insulating material threadedly fitted Within said openings, electrodes mounted in said plugs, other electrodes slidably fitted in said slots, and nuts mounted on the other electrodes and adapted to engage said head for securing the electrodes in any adjusted position Within the slots for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ADAM S. SHJIMA. 

